An Association at Work

With the virtual Annual Conference approaching, summer groups being planned, and fall programs on the docket, I imagine we are all busy. Sometimes I recognize that I’ve not come up for air to observe all that others are doing around me or taken a moment to absorb all that is steadily accomplished. This week, I received information from our commissions on their good work.

As of last week, there were a total of 124 persons in the CPE Educator Certification Process. Of these 124, 28 are in the old process - 16 Associate Educators and 12 Educator Candidates. The persons in the new process number 96. We wish all of them well as they continue their journeys. And we offer gratitude to all on the Certification Commission and every Certified Educator overseeing their process, those acting as Theory Paper Mentors (TM), Certification Commission Representatives (CCR), and peer group members.

The Accreditation Commission remained steadfast in 2020 even with the challenges of COVID-19, utilizing virtual visits and conferencing in lieu of in-person visits. With 303 Accredited Centers and 450 total training sites, twelve Ten-Year Reviews were completed for Continued Accredited Membership with an additional eighteen Six-Year Reviews for Continued Accredited Membership completed. We had four new Satellite Programs, one Satellite to Accredited Member Center, five Provisional Member Status, and two Provisional Center to Accredited Member Center granted.

We also had nine accreditation actions involving System Centers. Five System Centers added components, three Accredited Centers moved to System Centers, and one System Center moved to Accredited Center. Twelve centers added Certified Educator CPE. Sixty-one centers had notations removed. Sadly, we had ten centers voluntarily close, however, this tracks statistically with the ebbs and flows of our center memberships.

Finally, our newest commission – the Psychotherapy Commission – has maintained a brisk pace since it was established in 2019 as an interim commission. In just a few years, the commission created new membership structures, established new Communities of Practice, and oversaw the work of three task forces: Continuing Education, Pastoral Care Specialist (PCS), and Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy (SIP).

Thanks to the Continuing Education Task Force, ACPE is now a National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) continuing education provider and has filed for recognition with the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB). The PCS program, a 48-hour course focused on pastoral caregivers in churches and faith communities, begins piloting this year. Since its inception, the SIP program has planned 12 trainings, taught 62 students, and hosted two train-the-trainer trainings. Just last month, the SIP Task Force celebrated their first certifications of SIP Trainers – a momentous milestone!

The work reported here represents a tremendous amount of investment of time and energy from the commissioners, students, and members. ACPE could not provide the excellent spiritual care and education without our volunteer leaders. I am truly grateful to all our members who have answered the call to serve our association and its mission. Your dedication inspires me, and I am proud to serve alongside you. We are a working association!